Why Do People Become Flexitarian?

November 19, 2025 •

4 min read

According to a 2025 Kantar study in Great Britain, despite a slight decrease from the previous year, the flexitarian diet remains a popular choice for around 21.5% of consumers. But what drives so many to embrace this eating pattern? The reasons people become flexitarian are diverse, often combining health, ethical, and environmental motivations.

Quick Summary

A growing number of people are adopting a flexitarian diet, an eating pattern that is primarily plant-based but includes occasional meat consumption. Key motivations include improving health, reducing environmental impact, and supporting animal welfare, offering a practical and flexible middle ground between omnivorous and vegetarian diets.

Key Points

Health Improvement: Emphasizing plant-based foods in a flexitarian diet can reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Environmental Impact: Adopting a flexitarian diet reduces an individual's carbon footprint by decreasing the demand for resource-intensive livestock farming.
Animal Welfare: Many flexitarians are motivated by ethical concerns regarding the practices of industrial factory farming and aim to lessen their contribution to it.
Dietary Flexibility: The semi-vegetarian nature of the diet makes it less restrictive and more sustainable for people who enjoy meat but want to reduce their overall consumption.
Financial Savings: Centering meals around affordable plant-based foods such as legumes and grains can be more cost-effective than a meat-heavy diet.
Weight Management: The high-fiber content and lower calorie density of plant-based meals in the diet can effectively support weight loss and long-term management.

The flexitarian diet has gained significant traction as a sustainable and accessible approach to eating. Instead of a strict elimination of meat, flexitarianism encourages a greater intake of plant-based foods while allowing for the flexible inclusion of animal products. This dietary pattern appeals to a broad audience for several compelling reasons, ranging from personal well-being to planetary health.

Health Benefits

One of the most frequently cited reasons for transitioning to a flexitarian diet is the pursuit of better health. Research has repeatedly shown that diets rich in plant-based foods can offer numerous benefits. A greater intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes provides essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants, while a reduced consumption of red and processed meat can decrease the risk of chronic diseases.

Weight Management

Flexitarianism is often linked with effective weight management. Plant-based foods are typically lower in calories and fat while being high in fiber, which promotes a feeling of fullness and helps regulate appetite. Studies have observed that people following semi-vegetarian diets often have lower body mass indices (BMIs) compared to their carnivorous counterparts. By emphasizing a balanced intake of nutrient-dense foods, the diet supports healthy weight maintenance over the long term without strict calorie counting.

Reduced Risk of Chronic Diseases

Mounting evidence suggests that a flexitarian approach can lower the risk of developing certain chronic conditions. These include a reduced risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. The health advantages stem from a reduced intake of saturated fats and cholesterol, coupled with a higher intake of protective plant compounds.

Environmental and Sustainability Concerns

The environmental impact of food production has become a major global issue, and many people adopt a flexitarian diet to reduce their carbon footprint. The livestock industry is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, land degradation, and water consumption. By consciously reducing meat consumption, flexitarians contribute to a more sustainable food system.

Methane Reduction

The burping and manure from livestock, particularly cattle, produce significant amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. A collective shift towards flexitarianism could drastically reduce these emissions. One study cited by the BBC found that if the world adopted a flexitarian diet, agricultural greenhouse gas emissions could be more than halved.

Reduced Land and Water Use

Raising livestock for meat requires immense amounts of land for grazing and growing animal feed. It also consumes vast quantities of freshwater. By eating more plants and fewer animal products, flexitarians help relieve pressure on these finite resources, freeing up land for other purposes and conserving water.

Ethical and Animal Welfare Reasons

For many, the motivation to eat less meat is rooted in ethical concerns regarding animal welfare. The rise of industrial factory farming has brought attention to the conditions in which animals are raised. A flexitarian diet allows individuals to act on these concerns without committing to complete vegetarianism or veganism. Even a partial reduction in meat consumption can create less demand for factory-farmed products and encourage more ethical treatment of animals in the food industry.

Financial Considerations

Cost is another factor driving the flexitarian trend, particularly for lower-income households. Plant-based meals made from legumes, grains, and vegetables are often less expensive than those centered around meat. While meat substitutes can sometimes be pricey, focusing on naturally plant-based foods can offer significant savings on the weekly grocery bill. According to a Kantar study, meals without meat are substantially cheaper than those with meat.

Flexibility and Simplicity

Perhaps the most appealing aspect of the flexitarian diet is its flexibility. It doesn't demand perfection or strict adherence, making it a more manageable and enjoyable lifestyle change for many. This approach removes the restrictive feeling of eliminating entire food groups, which can lead to higher long-term adherence. It is not an all-or-nothing approach, allowing individuals to customize their meat reduction goals based on their preferences, budget, and lifestyle.

Flexitarian vs. Other Diets


Feature	Flexitarian Diet	Vegetarian Diet	Vegan Diet
Meat/Animal Products	Occasional inclusion of meat, fish, poultry.	No meat, fish, or poultry.	No animal products (meat, dairy, eggs, etc.).
Focus	Primarily plant-based with meat flexibility.	Strictly plant-based, but may include dairy and eggs.	Entirely plant-based.
Restrictiveness	Least restrictive; emphasizes reduction, not elimination.	Moderately restrictive; excludes all animal flesh.	Most restrictive; excludes all animal products.
Key Motivation	Health, environmental, animal welfare, flexibility.	Health, environmental, animal welfare.	Health, environmental, animal welfare, and complete ethical stance.
Nutritional Planning	Relatively easy to meet nutrient needs due to flexibility.	Requires planning for nutrients like B12, iron, zinc.	Requires careful planning and supplementation for all animal-sourced nutrients.

Conclusion

People become flexitarian for a compelling blend of reasons, with health, environmental sustainability, and ethical considerations at the forefront. This semi-vegetarian approach offers a realistic and accessible path for those who want to improve their diet and impact without the rigidity of a full vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. The emphasis on plant-based foods provides significant health benefits and contributes positively to the planet by reducing resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Ultimately, the flexibility of this diet makes it a sustainable and enjoyable choice that is easier to maintain over the long term. For anyone looking to make a positive change in their eating habits, flexitarianism offers a practical and rewarding starting point.

Listonic offers additional insight into the motivations behind the flexitarian diet.

Frequently Asked Questions

The flexitarian diet is a semi-vegetarian eating pattern that emphasizes plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, and legumes, while still allowing for the occasional, moderate consumption of meat, poultry, and fish.

Yes, a well-planned flexitarian diet is considered very healthy. By reducing meat intake and increasing plant-based foods, it can lead to improved heart health, better weight management, and a reduced risk of chronic diseases.

Yes, a flexitarian diet allows for the occasional consumption of red meat. The goal is not to eliminate it entirely, but to reduce overall intake and focus more on plant-based sources of protein.

There are no strict rules, and the frequency can vary by individual. Some follow a "Meatless Monday" schedule, while others might reserve meat for special occasions. The core principle is reduction, not elimination.

While veganism has the lowest environmental impact per person, the flexibility of the flexitarian diet makes it a more achievable and sustainable long-term option for a broader audience. A widespread shift to flexitarian eating would have a significant positive effect on the planet.

By reducing the overall demand for meat, flexitarians indirectly lessen the scale of industrial factory farming. This allows individuals to address animal welfare issues without having to completely give up animal products.

Yes, incorporating more affordable plant-based foods like lentils, beans, and grains can significantly reduce food costs compared to a diet heavy in meat.